Reverse Culture Shock

Today is one week later from I came back to Japan. I'm very sad and regret for a few reasons. First, this study abroad is my first experience to go to overseas, so I wanted to stay America more, and have a lot of special experience. I wanted to spend more time with my group, RA, friends, and MFWI teachers. Now, I’m isolating from my family in my house for two weeks, and I can’t go out, so I can’t believe I’m in Japan yet. Second when I arrived Japan, I heard a lot of Japanese and see a lot of Japanese letter. I was glad, but I was sad. I thought “I came back here finally…”. I miss my friend, RA, MFWI teachers, America, but my RA and teachers keep contact with me, so I’m happy and I can feel America and I can learn new words, expressions, and culture. When I came back to Japan, I ate rice, miso-soup, and natto. I didn’t eat natto in America, so I was glad. I felt difference between America and Japan. When I sneeze, people say “Bless you” in America, but in Japan, people nothing to say. Signs are all Japanese. Almost people speaking Japanese, so I miss English. I felt character difference between Japanese and American, too. I think Americans have confidence in oneself more than Japanese. It is one of good point of Americans, so I respect them. I came back here about two months earlier than first plan, so I think I can’t accept this reality more. I want to go back to America soon, but I can’t now, so I will go America in the future:)

My Best Memories Of MFWI

I have a lot of memories of MFWI. First, my dorm member's birthday. We have 2 members. Actually, 3 members, but her birthday is April 7th, so we can't celebrate her birthday. We had birthday surprise for each person. It was great success! I was very happy. We were go out and eating delicious foods, each day. One person's birthday, we went to MOD PIZZA in downtown, and another person's birthday, we went to NUDO. MOD PIZZA is Pizza restaurant, and NUDO is ramen's restaurant.  They were very delicious.Second is outgoing. The best impressive outgoing is second. That day was very cloudy. We went to Downtown and water fall. Suddenly, we caught in a storm. We were very wet, but it was so funny and excited. Almost people in the city didn't have umbrella, so I was impressed. We played with my group members and RA. We played "Just Dance Wii" many times. When I was in high school, I was in dance club, so I love dancing. We danced with my RA. It was great time for me. We played outside too. We played badminton, basketball, and catch ball. There were so fun. One day, I did cheer dance stands with my RA and friends. I was excited!! I have a lot of memories in here. I already miss here. I want to come back to America, someday.

Why I Need English

 English is very important for me for three reasons to communicate with people from other countries. First, English is used all over the world, not only in America. I want to communicate with many people. Now, I'm in America, and I want to talk with native speakers, such as my teacher, my RA, but I'm not good at English, so I don't talk to them very much. Therefore, I think I want to get stronger English speaking skills and talk with them. Second, in the future, I want to go to many countries, so now, I study English even harder, it is useful. In Japan, Tokyo 2020 Olympics will be held. I hfpe when they are a lot of visitors to Japan, I will be able to talk with other people in English makes me excited and makes me smarter. It is stimulating. If I don't study English, I can't talk with foreign people, write to foreign people, and read English books. What makes for happier and more exciting for my life, so I think I need English for my life.

My First Go Out

 I went shopping last weekend. We went to Downtown, North-town mall, and Walmart. There was very fun! First, we went to Downtown. There were looked like USJ. Many Pizza restaurant and Starbucks coffee shop. My first order in America is Starbucks coffee. I was nervous. I ordered strawberry Frappuccino, and I said my name, but I didn’t tell about size, so my drink size was venti. Venti size is  bigger  than grandee. It was so big, and I was surprised. It was delicious, but too much for me. I thought I want to order more correctly. In North-town mall, I bought water bottle and sticker. I want to buy water bottle for a long time, so I was happy. My bottle color is light purple, and my roommate and two members of my group has same bottle, but different color. It is really cute.  I put on sticker. It is my favorite one. After that, we went to Walmart and I bought lip and M&M’s chocolate. Price of lip was only 1 dollar, and It is very color, so I was surprised. M&M’s has big and colorful package. It looks cute, because it is mini size. I like it.

 On Sunday, we went to same places and grocery store in Downtown. Suddenly, there was storm, and we were drenched. Many water dropped from my face. It looks bad, but I was fun. We ran outside and screaming. After we came home, we took bath soon. It was awesome!

 I want to go to more places during my study abroad.

My First Trip Abroad

 This is my first time to go abroad, so I was very nervous. On February 6, I flew to Spokane. I was really nervous, but I was also excited. The flight from Japan to Seattle was really long. I don’t like planes, so I wasn't happy, but I could watch a lot of movies, eat delicious food, and sleep well, so I was happy when I arrived in Spokane, but I was really tired. 

 First day in Spokane, I played “Just dance wii” with my friends and RA. It was so exciting. After that, we played a card game called, “Dobble”. It was difficult, but I like it. At dinner time, I was very happy because Commons has a lot of fruit. I like fruit so much. In addition, I was surprised because the meals are gorgeous. For example,  the hamburger, pasta, and other food is really beautiful. After a few days, they also served ice cream. It was really delicious. I ate rainbow ice candy. 

 My classes started on Tuesday. They were exciting. On the First day, I had conversation, writing, and American Studies class. I’m not good at writing, but writing class was really exciting. I made many friends in the class, and I am getting along with my friends on my class from my classes at MWU . I’m so happy. 

Another good thing is I get to eat Japanese snacks,such as, Niboshi, Ottotto. They taste more delicious than when I ate them in Japan. I’m looking forward to eating many kinds of American food, but I’m really sad because we can’t go off campus for 2 weeks, because the corona virus means that we need to stay on campus in order to be safe.

Karin,Introduction

 Hello, I’m Karin. I’m 19years old.

 I have an older sister. She is 5 years older than me. Her name is Natsuki, and she came here about 5 years ago. She was Mukogawa women’s university’s student. I have a pet. He is a dog. His name is Mint. He is 11 years old.

 I like listening to music and dancing. I like Japanese music. I was in high school, I was in dance club. I danced hip-hop. It is very exciting and fun!

 I’m from Hyogo in Japan. Japan has many good places, so I love Japan. For example, Yokohama, Kobe, Tokyo… and so on. I have already been to Yokohama and I live in Kobe, so I want to go to Hokkaido. If I went to there, I want to eat many sea foods!

 I like cheesecake. Cheesecake shop in Kobe, “KANNNONNYA” is so good! It is so delicious!!

  Nice to meet you.